Water butt lids

[Squash64]

After finding Keith, one of our feral cats, drowned in a water butt I am on a mission to try to get all the plot holders to keep them covered.

Yesterday and today I walked round the site and made a list of all the uncovered ones.  I haven't gone to every plot yet, but have counted just over 100 so far!

Most people have the blue butts but many of them do not have the tops which were cut off.  (apart from one bloke who has at least ten of them covering his rhubarb)

I found that old bread crates are perfect for covering them so I've got people looking out for ones which are being thrown away.  I've also emailed three of the major bakeries asking if we could have their old ones.  Our Cats Protection lady has also been helping and one of their other volunteers is willing to make covers out of wood for us.

Everyone has been very sympathetic, apart from one man who laughed when I told him a cat had drowned.   :(

[Squash64]

[Lishka]

Well done, betty,for raising awareness and being so pro-active. 8)

Occurred to me that p'raps autumn/winter gales might blow them off so they'll need a brick or sommat to anchor them down - OR.......howzabout this for a nidea?......good fundraiser this..switch from making scarecrows to making  water butt bean-bags!' - but they won't be filled with beans but with pebbles? - as anchors for the new 'lids'. And if they're cat-shaped, so much the better 8) ;D

[Mr Smith]

Betty,
I'm sure one of our major Bread bakers will get back to you, but everyone does not like cats, from a personal point of view I don't like cruelty to any animals. OK I like any legal fieldsport which will not agree with the great and the good on here, but just for you Betty I would love to give matey a good swinging by his neck for doing the same to that cat in Southampton, :)

[tomatoada]

I use the top of an old small table which I picked up at a charity shop.  The small round tables you use to put an embroidered cloth over.   Just took the legs off.   I like the idea of using bread trays.   Butts will still catch water.
I must check the rules sometime because I thought water butts should be covered.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I use an old dustbin lid and a brick.

[cambourne7]

gone right off water butts after hearing about that guy who fell head first into his and drowned :(

[Mr Smith]

Betty,
   Rather than go for the bread basket route just  buy a roll of wire netting  and cut it to suit the water butts and bend it round the tops of the butts, :)

[claybasket]

My wire riddle fits lovely just the right size,and the rain water still get though to the bute.

[cornykev]

I liked the idea of a plank of wood until something more suitable is found.  ;D

[kt.]

I use the 1/2 inch thin 2ft roofing tiles

[Squash64]

Thanks for all the good ideas  :)

[BoardStupid]

Horrible to hear about any animal passing over rainbow bridge

Most of the plots around here use the large industrial containers as water butts. I think they are known as IBC ? 1000ltr

[pumkinlover]

LBC -liquid bulk container- I bought three this year :D

[Squash64]

LBC -liquid bulk container- I bought three this year :D

Are they like this?

[attachment=1]

This is what most of ours are like, we get them free from a local company.

[pumkinlover]

No they are the white plastic square things- fully enclosed - so nothing can get in- hold 1000litres and in a metal cage ;D

[aj]

No Betty - IBCs 1000l are cubes - often found with a cage around them. Come with a tap and a screw lid on the top to fill up.

[Squash64]

Oh yes, I know the ones you mean now.